Fostering Curiosity and STEM Skills
As part of a regional program supporting gifted primary school children, a group from a Researchers Club visited the IMCD Food & Nutrition Application Laboratory in Cologne on January 22, 2026. The special hands-on day offered eight- to ten-year olds an immersive insight into scientific work. Within a professional environment, the children had the chance to experience research, experimentation, and innovation first-hand.
Learning by Doing in the Food & Nutrition Application Lab
Following a short safety briefing, the young participants worked in small groups at various experimental stations. Guided by IMCD’s technical experts, they created their own lemonades, combined flavours, and evaluated their results using sensory criteria such as taste, aroma, colour, and texture.The aim of the day was to make scientific concepts accessible while sparking curiosity in STEM Subjects.
What is the Research Club?
The Research Club is a regional cross-school initiative by the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis to nurture particularly talented primary school children. Its focus lies on strengthening STEM skills - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - while also fostering learning motivation, problem-solving abilities, and presentation skills. Through self-selected projects and hands-on activities, children learn to explore scientific questions independently and develop creative solutions.
Inspiring Young Researchers
It was a successful day, giving the next generation of scientists a fascinating glimpse into the everyday work of an application laboratory. Through engaging experiments, they discovered how much fun research and experimentation can be. Initiatives like this allow IMCD to support early talent development and bring STEM enthusiasm into practice. Our special thanks go to our technical experts Kira Odendahl and Katja Wilmes, as well as all the children whose curiosity, creativity, and research spirit made the day truly enjoyable.